$25K SUEZ Grant Cuts Cost of Mobile STEM Lab Visits

Hampton - A $25,000 grant from the SUEZ Foundation will help underwrite the cost of bringing EASTCONN's Mobile STEM Laboratory, northeastern Connecticut's newest science-based learning resource, to 20 schools over the next year. "This generous contribution by the SUEZ Foundation will make it possible for even more schools and students to benefit from a Mobile STEM Lab visit," said EASTCONN's Dr. Stacey Watson-Williams, who oversees the STEM Laboratory's science instruction and learning. STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.SUEZ, which has operations in the Town of Killingly and nearby Putnam, provide water, wastewater and recycling services to more than 7.4 million people in the U.S. and Canada. The Mobile STEM Lab is for students and teachers, kindergarten to grade 12. This lab-on-wheels provides access to a variety of scientific disciplines and advantages. The lab is fully equipped and can travel relatively long distances. EASTCONN charges a break-even fee to finance STEM Lab trips to schools or other sites, like state parks, where students can conduct experiments both inside and outside of the lab. Thanks to the SUEZ grant, 20 EASTCONN-region schools will only have to pay half that break-even fee, which varies. Included in the fee: laboratory travel, a teacher's pre-visit training, an on-board EASTCONN science instructor, all scientific materials, a curriculum aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards, and more. Jason O'Brien, General Manager stated, "SUEZ is glad to support a program that believes in the development of a stronger workforce of expertise in science, technology, engineering and math. As an employer in the community, we have a need for licensed water and wastewater operators. The education and awareness of the profession starts within the local schools."The lab's curriculum covers topics like watersheds, biodiversity, climate change, waste-water treatment, introduction to robotics, among others. Customized curricula are available. Among the lab's on-board inventory are iPads for interactive work, data collection and analysis; an on-board scanning electron microscope; general laboratory equipment; Vernier probes; 20 work stations with electrical feeds for lab microscopes; interior flat-screen monitors; an exterior TV monitor, and other tools. To learn more about EASTCONN's Mobile STEM Laboratory, and how to schedule a school visit, or a teacher training, contact Stacey Watson at 860-455-1508, or at swatson@eastconn.org. Visit www.eastconn.org/stemonthemove. EASTCONN is a public, non-profit, Regional Educational Service Center that has been serving the region's education needs since 1980. Learn more at www.eastconn.orgSUEZ in North America operates across all 50 states and Canada with 3,560 employees dedicated to environmental sustainability and leading the resource revolution. The company provides drinking water, wastewater and waste collection service to 7.4 million people on a daily basis; treats 570 million gallons of water and 815 million gallons of wastewater each day; offers water treatment and advanced network solutions to 16,000 industrial and municipal sites; processes 55,000 tons of waste for recycling; rehabilitates and maintains water assets for more than 4,000 municipal and industrial customers; and manages $4.1 billion in total assets. The company posted revenues of $1.25 billion in 2015 and is a subsidiary of Paris-based SUEZ. Learn more at www.mysuezwater.com.

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